Saudi Arabia reportedly used physical abuse to extract billions from its corruption crackdown

Saudi Arabia reportedly used physical abuse to extract
billions of dollars from some of the country's richest
men.

At least 17 arrested officials were hospitalized in the
early stages of the crackdown, and one died in
custody.

The corruption probe, spearheaded by Crown Prince
Mohammed bin Salman, saw the arrests of more than
200 officials and businessmen, netting $100 billion in
settlements.

Saudi Arabia reportedly used coercion and physical abuse to
extract billions of detainees during a crackdown on corruption.

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The purge, launched in early November 2017, arrested 11 princes
as well as government ministers and wealthy businessmen, who were
then held in the Ritz Carlton in Riyadh.

At least 17 officials were hospitalized in the early stages of
the crackdown and one later died in custody after suffering major
injuries from apparent mistreatment,
the New York Times reported.

Family members of arrested officials said detainees were
"deprived of sleep, roughed up and interrogated with their heads
covered," reported the Times.

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In one instance, a Saudi military officer reportedly died in
custody after suffering from a twisted neck that looked like it
had been forcibly broken, and his body was covered in bruises,
according to someone who saw the body. A doctor who also saw the
corpse identified burn marks indicative of electric shocks.

The Saudi government told the Times its investigations were
conducted "under full accordance to Saudi laws."

"All those under investigation had full access to legal counsel
in addition to medical care to address pre-existing, chronic
conditions," the government said.

More than 200 officials were arrested during the corruption probe

The government said the anti-corruption committee, headed by the
Crown Prince, had the right to issue arrest warrants, impose
travel restrictions, and freeze bank accounts. An estimated 1,700
individual bank accounts were frozen in November, according to
the Associated Press.

In the initial stages of the crackdown, Saudi Minister of
Commerce and Investment Majid al-Qasabi
said "eliminating corruption also means greater transparency
and greater security for investors."

But critics say the anti-corruption program, which was paused in
December, has been shrouded in secrecy, with details of
transactions and deals reached between detainees and the
government remaining unclear.

The Ritz Carlton has since reopened, though 56
people were still being detained last month, likely in a
prison.